Means for aligning and revolving electrodes having screw-type connections



April 16, 1968 R. c, CARPENTER MEANS FOR ALIGNING AND REVOLVING ELECTRODES HAVING SCREW-TYPE CONNECTIONS Filed Feb. 2, 1966 IfI VENTOR Robe rt C. Carpenter NEYS United States Patent 3,377,686 MEANS FOR ALIGNING AND REVGLVING ELEC- TRODES HAVING SCREW-TYPE QONNECTIGNS Robert C. Carpenter, 154 Toponce, Poeatello, Idaho 83201 Filed Feb. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 524,377 9 Claims. (Cl. 29203) This invention is a novel means for aligning and revolving electrodes having screw-type connections, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel roller assembly adapted to align and steady a new electrode which is to be attached by means of a threaded nipple to the end of a relatively fixed used electrode, in combination with revolving means for rotating the new electrode whereby a new length of electrode may be readily attached to the end of a used electrode with ease and convenience. The aligning and revolving means disclosed in this application is adapted to be used in furnaces which use electrodes which are joined together by means of a threaded nipple, the diameter, length or weight of the electrodes being of no importance, and the size of the equipment varying with the size of the electrode.

One object of the invention is to provide an aligning means comprising an adjustable roller assembly adapted to engage the side of the new vertically disposed electrode, the roller assembly being hinged or articulated so as to be movable out of the way when not in use, and the assembly including spaced vertical rollers which are adjustable by means of the hinged parts of the assembly so that the rollers can be adjusted towards or from each other so as to fit and preperly align the new electrode with the threaded nipple carried by the vertically disposed fixed used electrode, a turnbuckle being provided for the purpose of adjusting the alignment and for maintaining the rollers which engage the new electrode in desired adjusted or aligned position, the rollers holding the electrode rigid with respect to the nipple while permitting the new electrode to be revolved for the purpose of screwing the new electrode onto the nipple of the fixed used electrode.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in com bination with the adjustable roller assembly, a revolving means for the new electrode including a winch assembly disposed below the roller assembly and including a cable storage winch carrying one end of a cable which is wrapped around the electrode and which maintains a yieldable tension on the cable, and a second or power winch upon which the cable is wound up to cause the new electrode to be revolved when the power winch is actuated to effect the screwed connection between the electrodes.

An important feature of my invention is the provision of a cable wrapped around the electrode to effect revolution of the new electrode with respect to the used electrode in combination with the roller assembly engaging the new electrode which keeps the electrodes properly aligned for attachment purposes; the wrap-around cable being under yieldable tension at all times to hold the new electrode firmly against the rollers thereby holding the new electrode firmly in adjusted alignment in order that said electrode may be screwed properly upon the threaded nipple of the fixed used electrode.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same, and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my novel means for aligning and revolving electrodes showing a new electrode in the process of being guided and revolved to screw the same onto the nipple of a fixed used electrode.

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FIG. 2 is a plan view of the guide roller assembly showing in full lines the positions of the arms which carry the rollers when applied to the new electrode, and showing in dotted lines the arms which carry the rollers in retracted positions.

As shown in the drawing, the fixed electrode 1 to which a new electrode 3 is to be attached end-to-end, is provided with an axially disposed threaded nipple 2 extending from one end thereof, said threaded nipple 2 being adapted to engage an axial bore 2a in a new electrode 3, the electrodes 1 and 2 being of the same diameter. The new electrode 3 is normally suspended in vertical position above the used electrode 1 by means of a cable 22 engaging a bail 23 temporarily secured to the upper end of electrode 3 as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the electrode may be raised or lowered, swung laterally, also revolved, as hereinafter explained.

In order to properly align the bore 3a of new electrode 3 with the nipple 2, I provide an aligning means comprising a roller assembly disposed laterally of the electrode 3 adjacent the lower end thereof, and consisting of an adjustable vertically disposed relatively fixed base plate 4 carrying a pair of spaced vertical brackets 5 having upper and lower horizontal flanges 5a and 5b, FIG. 1.

Hingedly attached to the upper flanges 5a are inner arms 6 pivoted as at on to upper flanges 5a; and similarly inner arms 7, FIG. 1, are hingedly attached at at 7a to the lower flanges 5b of brackets 5, the outer ends of the inner arms 6 and 7 of each bracket 5 being secured together by means of vertical posts 8, FIG. 1, to form rigid units.

Between the two posts 8 is a horizontally disposed turnbuckle 9 having books at each end engaging eyes 10 in the posts 8 whereby the spacing between the posts 8 may be adjusted by manipulating the turnbuckle 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner butt ends of the inner arms 6 and 7 are cut on an angle 11 to engage the ends of a correspondingly shaped lug on the flange 5a to prevent swinging movement of the arms 6 and 7 inwardly towards each other beyond their normal working positions of parallel relation, but permitting the arms 6 and 7 to be swung outwardly away from each other from their normal parallel relation as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2, in order to remove the arms 6, 7 out of the way of the new electrode 3 when not in use.

On the outer ends of the arms 6 are outer arms 12 pivoted as at 12a, and at the outer ends of arms 7 are outer arms 13 pivoted to the arms 7, the outer ends of the arms 12 and 13 of each bracket 5 being connected together by means of vertical rods 14 on which are journaled electrode engaging rollers 15, which rollers 15 are adapted to engage the sides of the new electrode 3, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Similarly, the inner butt ends of the arms 12 and 13 are cut on an angle 16 opposite to the angularity 11 of the inner ends of the arms 6 and 7 to prevent outward swinging of the respective arms 1212 and 1313 beyond their normal parallel working relation, i.e., when aligned with the arms 66, 77, but permitting the arms 12-12, 1313 to be swung inwardly from their normal parallel working relation, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, to permit further folding of the articulated roller assembly away from the electrode 3 when not in use.

Thus, when turnbuckle 9 is unhooked from the posts 8, the assembly of arms 67, 1243 being articulated may be folded against or adjacent the fixed support 4 out of the way of electrode 3, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2; but when the arms 6-7, 12-13 are swung into the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 with the rollers 15 engaging the side of the new electrode 3, and when the turnbuckle 9 is applied to the posts 8 and adjusted, the

arms 6-7, 12-13 will remain in axial alignment and will form with the base 4 a rigid unit maintaining the axis of the bore 3a of new electrode 3 aligned with the axis of the nipple 2. Adjustment of turnbuckle 9 will adjust the roller 15 towards or away from each other to thereby alter the axial adjustment of the new electrode 3 with respect to the fixed used electrode 1.

In order to revolve the new electrode 3, I provide a cable storage drum 17 (FIG. 1) disposed'on a fixed axis below the roller assembly, said drum 17 having a cable 18 wrapped therearound, the drum 17 being yieldably and constantly subjected to the action of a spring motor 19 or the like. I also provide a second or power drum 20 below or adjacent the drum 17 upon which the cable 18 is adapted to be wound, said drum 19 being rotated by suitable power means indicated at 21 against the action of spring motor 19, said power means 21 being stronger than the force exerted by the spring or other motor 19 which operates the drum 17.

As shown, the cable 18 from the winch drum 17 is also wrapped with several loops around the new electrode 3 in the designed direction of rotation of the new electrode, and is wound up upon the power drum 21), so that when power is applied by the power means 21 the new electrode 3 will be revolved in the proper direction to thread the new electrode 3 upon the nipple 2 of the fixed used electrode 1, the rolls 15 holding the electrode 3 aligned with the nipple 2, while allowing the electrode to be revolved by the cable 18. When the power means 21 is stopped, however, the spring motor 19 will maintain the cable 18 taut or under tension thereby maintaining the electrode 3 in firm contact with the rollers 15 at all times.

An important feature of my invention resides in the system of wrapping cable around the new electrode, and the roller cooperating with said electrode which keeps same firm for attachment purposes. Another salient point in my invention is the use of the wrap-wound cable with means for retaining tension therein at all times, in combination with the adjustable rollers 15 holding the electrode 3 firm in order that it may be screwed properly upon the nipple 2 of the fixed used electrode 1.

In operation, the cable 18 from drum 1'7 is wrapped with several loops around the electrode 3 in the direction the electrode is to be rotated. The number of wraps will depend upon the size of the electrode and the cable. After it is wrapped the desired number of times the end of the cable is fixed to the power drum 20, and after the electrode 3 is set in place and lined up, the rollers 15 are locked in place by means of the trunbuckle 9. Both drums thus tighten the cable. Then the electrode is ready to be screwed on. As power drum 20 starts to take in the cable 18, the cable storage drum 17 will exert a constant tension on the cable which will set up friction on the electrode 3 and cause electrode 3 to revolve, thereby screwing the same onto the nipple 2.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawing, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for aligning and revolving electrodes having screw-type connections, comprising in combination with a fixed electrode having a threaded nipple extending from one end, a second electrode having an axial bore in its end adapted to receive said nipple; means for suspending the second electrode above the fixed electrode while permitting the second electrode to raise and lower, swing laterally, and to revolve; a base disposed laterally of the second electrode; means on the base engaging the second electrode for aligning the bore of the second electrode with the nipple of the fixed electrode while in spaced relation thereto; and means disposed adjacent the aligning means for revolving the second electrode while so aligned whereby as the second electrode is lowered the nipple will be screwed into said bore to connect the electrodes end-to-end.

2. In means as set forth in claim 1, said aligning means comprising a pair of spaced frames hingedly connected at their inner ends to said base, said frames extending towards the second electrode at opposite sides respectively of the vertical axis of said electrode; vertically disposed rollers at the outer ends of the frames respectively engaging the surface of the second electrode; and expansible means disposed between and connecting the said frames whereby as the expansible means is adjusted the rollers will be shifted with respect to each other to correspondingly shift the second electrode laterally with respect to the fixed electrode.

3. In means as set forth in claim 2, said vertical frames being articulated whereby when the expansible means is disconnected the frames may be folded and retracted to lie adjacent to the basef 4. In means as set forth in claim 2, said expansible means comprising a turnbuckle.

5. In means as set forth in claim 1, said revolving means comprising a cable storage drum disposed below said aligning means; means for yieldably rotating the drum in one direction; a power drum disposed below the storage drum; power means for rotating the power drum in a direction opposite from that of the storage drum; and a cable wound on said drums making a number of loops around the second electrode in the desired direction of rotation of the second electrode, whereby when the power means is actuated the second electrode will be rotated while in contact with said aligning means to screw the second electrode onto said nipple of the fixed electrode.

6. In means as set forth in claim 5, said aligning means comprising a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on the base; vertical rollers carried by said arms respectively engaging the surface of the second electrode at opposite sides of the vertical axis of said electrode; means for swinging the arms with respect to each other to correspondingly shift the second electrode laterally with respect to the fixed electrode; and said revolving means acting in a direction to maintain the second electrode in form contact with said rollers.

7. In means as set forth in claim 6, said means for yieldably rotating the storage drum maintaining the cable under tension when the power means is inoperative to take up slack in the cable and to maintain the second electrode in constant contact with said rollers.

8. In means as set forth in claim 1, said aligning means comprising a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on the base; vertical rollers carried by said arms respectively engaging the surface of the second electrode at opposite sides of the vertical axis of said electrode; means for swinging the arms with respect to each other to correspondingly shift the second electrode laterally with respect to the fixed electrode; and said revolving means acting in a direction to maintain the second electrode in firm contact with said rollers.

9. In means as set forth in claim 8, said means for yieldably rotating the storage drum maintaining the cable under tension when the power means is inoperative to take up slack in the cable and to maintain the second electrode in constant contact with said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,331 4/1955 Bartelheim et al 29-203 2,873,516 2/1959 McCain et al. 29203 3,078,557 2/ 1963 Estabrook 29-252 X 3,084,419 4/1963 Doetsch et al 29628 3,093,894 6/ 1963 Jurecka 29205 3,103,023 9/1963 Zdanis 10155 3,119,175 1/1964 Lancaster 29-240 3,289,282 12/1966 Shaffer 29-200 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR ALIGNING AND REVOLVING ELECTRODES HAVING SCREW-TYPE CONNECTIONS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A FIXED ELECTRODE HAVING A THREADED NIPPLE EXTENDING FROM ONE END, A SECOND ELECTRODE HAVING AN AXIAL BORE IN ITS END ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID NIPPLE; MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE SECOND ELECTRODE ABOVE THE FIXED ELECTRODE WHILE PERMITTING THE SECOND ELECTRODE TO RAISE AND LOWER, SWING LATERALLY, AND TO REVOLVE; A BASE DISPOSED LATERALLY OF THE SECOND ELECTRODE; MEANS ON THE BASE ENGAGING THE SECOND ELECTRODE FOR ALIGNING THE BORE OF THE SECOND ELECTRODE WITH THE NIPPLE OF THE FIXED ELECTRODE WHILE IN SPACED RELATION THERETO; AND MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE ALIGNING MEANS FOR REVOLVING THE SECOND ELECTRODE WHILE SO ALIGNED WHEREBY AS THE SECOND ELECTRODE IS LOWERED THE NIPPLE WILL BE SCREWED INTO SAID BORE TO CONNECT THE ELECTRODES END-TO-END. 